Siege of Lahore (1043)

Siege of Lahore
Part of Ghaznavid campaigns in India
Date1043-4
Location
Lahore
31°32′59″N 74°20′37″E / 31.54972°N 74.34361°E / 31.54972; 74.34361
Result Ghaznavid victory[1]
Belligerents
Ghaznavid Empire
Commanders and leaders
Mawdud of Ghazni
Faqih Salti		 Bhoja[2]
Mahipal Tomar[3]
Lakshmikarna[4]
Strength
Unknown 10,000 cavalry
unknown infantry[5]
Casualties and losses
Unknown Heavy
Lahore
Location within Pakistan
Lahore
Lahore (South Asia)

The Siege of Lahore (1043) was a military engagement during the decline of the Ghaznavid Empire. A coalition of Indian kingdoms, including Paramara Raja Bhoja, Tomara Raja of Delhi, and the Kalachuri dynasty of Tripuri, besieged the city of Lahore in an effort to expel the Ghaznavids from Punjab. Despite intense fighting and a seven-month siege, the defenders of Lahore launched a successful counterattack, forcing the besieging forces to retreat. Though the siege ended in failure for the invaders, they retained control over several captured territories, including Nagarkot and Hansi.

Background

Further information: Ghaznavid campaigns in India, Ghaznavid-Hindu Shahi wars, and Ghaznavid invasions of Kannauj

In 1036, Mas'ud (r. 1030–1040) appointed his son Majdud to be the commander of chief of the Ghaznavid troops in India deposing Ahmad Inaltigin. Majdud occupied the territories in the Indus valley and its tributaries as far east as Hansi and Thanesar.[6] After Mas'ud's death Majdud revolted in Lahore and Multan against Muhammad (r. 1030, 1040 – 1041) and Mawdud (r. 1041–1050). Mawdud dispatched Salar Ahmad b. Muhammad and Faqih Saliti nominated as governor of Lahore to suppress Majdud's revolt. Majdud died on 11 August 1041, three days after declaring revolt. Mawdud thereby was able to establish his authority over Ghaznavid India.[7]

Siege

The Indian kingdoms taking opportunity of Mas'ud's end launched attack on the Ghaznavids.[8] In 1043-4, Paramara Raja Bhoja, Anahilla, Lakshmikarna of the Kalachuris of Tripuri formed an coalition under the leadership of Tomara Raja of Delhi to end Ghaznavid rule over Punjab. They first captured Hansi, Thanesar, Nagarkot and other dependencies of the Ghaznavids and at last besieged Lahore.[9] Following the capture of Nagarkot, the invading forces proceeded to Lahore with 10,000 calvary and numerous body of foot,[10] besieged the city for seven months.[11] The siege of the city was initiated, and its walls were quickly reduced to ruins. However, garrison within staunchly defended the town, engaging in fierce street-by-street combat. For seven months, the allied forces' attempts to capture the city were in vain. With no relief arriving and the garrison suffering from severe famine, the defenders, in a final act of resolve, decided to launch a bold sortie from the fort and attacked the besieging army.[10] Caught off guard, the invaders were routed and fled the battlefield.[12][10]

Aftermath

The Indian chiefs retained their hold over Nagarkot, Hansi and other conquered places for some time.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ Gibb 1995, p. 872 "A coalition of rādjās recaptured Hansi, Thanesar, etc., but was however driven back from Lahore in 435/1043-4"
  2. ^ Sen 1999, p. 320
  3. ^ Majumdar 1966, p. 94; Seth 1978, p. 207 "the raja of Delhi, who was Mahipal, organised a confederacy of the Hindu chiefs ..."
  4. ^ Majumdar 1966, p. 94
  5. ^ Latif 1891, p. 88 "three of them advanced to invest Lahore, at the head of 10,000 horse and a numerous body of foot."
    Majumdar & Phil 1956, p. 310 "three of the Rajas with 10,000 horse and innumerable number of besieged Lahore."
  6. ^ Bosworth 1977, p. 33 "Majdud, at the instigation of his adviser Ayāz Khāss, marched from Multān and occupied for himself territory in the valley of the Indus and its tributaries as far east as Hānsī and Thānesar."
  7. ^ Bosworth 1977, pp. 31–32
  8. ^ Bosworth 1977, pp. 31
  9. ^ Bosworth 1977, pp. 32–33; Majumdar 1966, pp. 67, 94
  10. ^ a b c Majumdar & Phil 1956, p. 310.
  11. ^ Wink 2021, p. 228
  12. ^ Majumdar 1966, p. 94
  13. ^ Majumdar 1966, p. 94

Bibliography

  • Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (1977). The Later Ghaznavids: Splendour and Decay. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-0-85224-315-2.
  • Majumdar, Ashoke Kumar; Phil, D. (1956). "Hindu Invasion of Western Punjab in A.D. 1043". The Indian Historical Quarterly. Calcutta Oriental Press. pp. 305–311.
  • Sen, Sailendra Nath (1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0.
  • Rehman, Abdur (1976). The Last Two Dynasties of the Sahis: An Analysis of Their History, Archaeology, Coinage and Palaeography. Australian National University. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024.
  • Wink, André (25 October 2021). Al-Hind, Volume 2 Slave Kings and the Islamic Conquest, 11th-13th Centuries. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-48301-9.
  • Majumdar, R. C. (1966). History and Culture of Indian People - 5 Struggle For Empire. Vol. V (2nd ed.). Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
  • Latif, Syad Muhammad (1891). History of the Panjáb from the Remotest Antiquity to the Present Time. Calcutta Central Press Company, limited.
  • Seth, Krishna Narain (1978). The Growth of the Paramara Power in Malwa. Progress Publishers. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024.
  • Gibb, Hamilton Alexander Rosskeen (1995). The Encyclopaedia of Islam. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-09834-3. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022.

Further reading

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